Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
<img src="http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r486/BMMECNYC/Portland%20Terminal%20company%2023%20ft%205%20by%2015ft%202%20double%20ended%20yard%20v1.4_zpsq0wrwesx.png" alt="V1.4" /> Added Portland Union Station trainshed to hide the fact that tracks end at a wall instead of continuing to Augusta/Waterville/Bangor area.   This past weekend my wife and I took a trip to Portland, and visited the Thompsons Point area.  The original Portland and Ogdensburg shop building is still standing (circa 1905 I believe).  Due to a flower show, I was able to go inside and take photographs of the building construction, as well as 360 degree outside photos (need to go back when there arent a bunch of cars in the way.   As a little bonus.  A section of the original union station train shed has been preserved, and serves as roof over an open air ice skating rink.  I also got photos of that, when the rink is finished, I should be able to get closeups for scratchbuilding purposes. Back to the plan. I was digging through my salvaged turnouts from my previous layout and inventorying them.  I have enough to do this layout in code 100, with some left overs.  I really want to go with 83, but dropping $2,000+ on turnouts (again) seems like a waste.  I was considering going with fastracks turnouts throughout.  I could sell the code 100 on ebay or something, which would likely yield enough cash to cover the cost of the nescessary fast tracks jigs/construction aids (I have a few already).     I am not entirely happy with the alignment revision near the station.  That track arrangement is closer to the post-1953 alignment when new highway and new rail bridge were constructed across the Fore River.  I also loose the opportunity to put an interlocking tower on a pile trestle, along with turnouts and symaphore signals. Rigby Yard was originally constructed in 1926 to consolidate switching operations and to replace several roundhouses and servicing/maintenance facilities scattered around Portland.  The 1914 USGS 48000 topo shows 3 different roundhouse locations (for MEC/BM/PT, there is an additional roundhouse in East Deering for GT(NE)/CN).  1941 shows 3 roundhouses total.  Rigby, Thompsons Point (not in use according to my research, but was used for war profiteering....this in itself is an interesting story about construction of Liberty Ships), and Deering. From the photos I have found, the turntables and roundhouses were all too small to handle larger power that started being acquired in the late 1920s by the BM, this and a 1922 roundhouse fire likely contributed to Rigby yard being built.  The Thompsons point erecting shop area has approximately 50ft spacing between the bridge crane rails (still installed!).   I would like to include a backshop area in the plan as well.  I need to start from a blank piece of paper again and take a hard look at the scope of the modeling.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community